Perez: Even Hamilton Would Struggle as Verstappen's Red Bull Teammate

Sergio Perez suggests that even elite drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc would "struggle massively" to perform alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, citing the unique challenges of the team environment. Having spent four seasons as Verstappen's teammate, Perez offers a unique perspective on the immense pressure and specific demands of the role.

Why it matters:

Perez's insights shed light on why so many highly-rated drivers have failed to consistently challenge Verstappen at Red Bull. His perspective highlights that the issue might not solely be the individual driver's skill, but rather the unique dynamic and setup within the championship-winning team, which is tailored to Verstappen's distinct driving style.

The Details:

• The 'Verstappen Effect': Perez, who was Verstappen's teammate from 2021 to 2024, witnessed Verstappen secure four consecutive drivers' titles. He suggests that the environment at Red Bull, built around Verstappen, makes it incredibly difficult for any other driver to thrive.
• A Unique Challenge: Perez explicitly states that "no driver can survive there. It doesn't matter if you bring Hamilton, Leclerc. Whoever you bring there is going to struggle massively." He emphasizes that it's a "very unique driving style" that requires constant adaptation to Verstappen's needs.
• Putting Struggles in Context: Perez's own struggles in 2024, finishing eighth in the standings, led to him losing his seat for 2025. However, the subsequent difficulties faced by Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull car this year seem to validate Perez's claims about the inherent challenge of the seat.
• Former Teammate Killer: Verstappen has long held a reputation for being an ultimate 'teammate killer,' having quickly seen off drivers like Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon before Perez's arrival. Lawson's brief two-race stint and Tsunoda's currently uncertain future further underscore this trend.
• Perez's Comeback: Despite his Red Bull exit, Perez is set to return to the grid with new entrant Cadillac next year. He expressed a strong desire to "finish my career properly" and believes he has a "final point to prove" and that people will be "surprised on how competitive, how good I will be on my comeback."

The big picture:

This commentary from Perez offers a rare glimpse into the internal dynamics of a top F1 team and the immense pressure of partnering a generational talent like Max Verstappen. It suggests that Red Bull's success, while undeniably driven by Verstappen's talent, is also a product of a meticulously optimized environment that few others can master. This situation fuels the ongoing debate about whether drivers like Hamilton or Leclerc would indeed fare better, or if the 'Verstappen effect' is truly insurmountable within Red Bull.

What's next:

Perez will aim to prove his enduring skill and adaptability in his comeback with Cadillac next year, seeking to end his career on a high note. Meanwhile, the F1 world will keenly watch who Red Bull chooses as Verstappen's next teammate and how they contend with the challenges Perez has so vividly described, as the team aims to continue its championship dominance.